Electronic Device

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2025-012009, filed Jan. 28, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device.

JP-A-2023-117589 discloses an electronic device in which an outer case includes a communication interface and a cover member that covers a cable connected to the communication interface.

The cover member of the electronic device is, for example, transported in the same package as the electronic device, and is unpacked and attached to the electronic device when the electronic device is installed. The cover member is attached to and detached from the electronic device by a snap fit structure without requiring a tool.

However, in the electronic device of related art, since the cover member is attached to the outer case from the rear, the fitting strength of the snap fit structure has to be increased in order to prevent the cover member from coming off rearward when the electronic device is used. When the hook shape is enlarged to increase this strength, there is a problem that the size of the cover member increases.

The present disclosure has an object to solve the problems of the techniques of related art described above and provide an electronic device including a cover member that can be easily attached to an outer case and is not easily detached rearward without increasing the size.

An electronic device according to present disclosure includes an outer case, wherein the outer case includes a cover member configured to cover a communication interface and a cable connected to the communication interface and the cover member is mounted to the outer case from downward toward upward and is attachable to and detachable from the outer case.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 FIG. 2 2 2 is a perspective view of a check scanner. The check scanneris an example of an electronic device. The present disclosure is not limited to the check scanner, and can be applied to various electronic devices such as a printer.

2 5 5 The check scanneris a device that reads Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters recorded on a check, recognizes the MICR characters that were read, and reads both sides of the check.

2 7 7 3 7 20 21 20 20 21 22 5 21 22 23 22 22 24 25 22 The check scannerincludes an outer case, and the outer caseis disposed on a table. The outer caseincludes a main body caseand a lid casecovering the upper side of the main body case, and various components are incorporated inside the main body caseand the lid case. A transport pathfor the check, which is a U-shaped vertical groove, is formed in the lid case. One end of the transport pathis connected to a check supply sectionformed of a vertical groove having a width larger than that of the transport path. The other end of the transport pathis connected to a first check discharge sectionand a second check discharge section, which are formed of vertical grooves having a width larger than that of the transport path.

51 5 52 51 5 52 53 5 The amount, the drawer, the signature, and the like are written on a front surfaceof the checkwith a formed pattern as a background. A MICR character stringextending in an elongated side direction is recorded on a lower edge portion of the front surfaceof the check. In the MICR character string, a plurality of MICR characters are arranged in the elongate direction. An endorsement field is formed on a back surfaceof the check. In the endorsement field, a predetermined image or character related to endorsement is recorded.

5 23 54 55 51 22 5 23 22 56 The checkis inserted into the check supply sectionin an upright orientation in which an upper edgeis positioned upward and a lower edgeis positioned below, and in an orientation in which the front and back are aligned so that the front surfacefaces the outside of the U-shaped transport path. The checkinserted into the check supply sectionis sent out and transported to the transport pathwhile maintaining the upright orientation with a trailing edgeas the front.

5 23 22 51 53 52 51 52 5 24 While the checksent out from the check supply sectionis transported along the transport path, the front surfaceand back surfaceare read and the MICR character stringrecorded on the front surfaceis magnetically read. If the MICR character stringreading and the image quality evaluation of the read image are successful, the checkis discharged to the first check discharge sectionafter a specific image and text related to endorsements are recorded.

52 5 25 5 25 On the other hand, if the MICR character string readingand the image quality evaluation of the read image fail, the checkis discharged to the second check discharge sectionwithout recording the specific endorsement image or characters. The checkdischarged to the second check discharge sectionis subjected to processes such as investigation of the cause of the reading failure and re-reading.

2 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 2 71 71 is a perspective view of the check scanneras viewed from the back.andare enlarged views of the same,illustrates a state where a cover member(to be described later) is removed, andillustrates a state where the cover memberis attached.

20 60 20 60 61 62 63 The main body caseincludes a step sectionhaving a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view at a lower portion of a back surfaceA. The step sectionis surrounded by a pair of first wall sectionsandand a second wall section.

64 63 64 64 a. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) I/Fis disposed on the second wall section. The I/F is an abbreviation for interface. The USB I/Fis connected to a PC (not illustrated) via a USB cable

66 63 66 66 66 66 a a An Ethernet I/Fis disposed on the second wall section. The Ethernet is a registered trademark. The Ethernet I/Fis connected to an image server (not illustrated) via an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet I/Fmay be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. The Ethernet I/F is an example of a “communication interface”. The Ethernet cableis an example of a “cable connected to a communication interface”.

68 63 68 68 a. A power source I/Fis disposed on the second wall section. The power source I/Fis connected to a power source via a power cable

65 63 65 65 65 65 65 a a a A dongle I/Fis disposed on the second wall section. A dongleequipped with a USB-A terminal is connected to the dongle I/F. The dongleincludes a communication function by a wireless LAN and is connected to an image server (not illustrated) for communication. Note that the connection between the dongle I/Fand the dongleis not limited to the connection by USB-A, and may be a connection by USB-B or USB-C, or may be a connection method other than USB as long as it is electrically attachable and detachable.

71 60 20 7 71 60 7 20 The cover memberis attached to the step sectionof the main body caseof the outer case. The cover memberis attached with respect to the step sectionof the outer casefrom downward toward upward, and is attachable to and detachable from the main body case.

5 FIG. 6 FIG. 71 71 is a perspective view of the cover member, andis a side view of the cover member.

71 64 66 68 72 73 74 76 72 73 76 71 20 71 60 74 71 80 74 74 71 69 60 80 a a a 4 FIG. The cover membercovers a part of the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cable, and includes a pair of side surface platesand, an upper surface plate, and a back surface plate. The lower edges of the pair of side surface platesandand the back surface plateof the cover memberare flush with the lower end of the main body casewhen the cover memberis attached on the step section. The upper surface plateof the cover memberis bent at an intermediate portion thereof, and a step surfaceis formed so that the rear side of the upper surface plateis higher. As shown in, the upper surface plateof the cover membercontacts against an upper wall sectionof the step sectionon the front side of the step surface.

75 60 7 71 75 71 An engagement sectionis provided between the step sectionof the outer caseand the cover member. The engagement sectionsare disposed on both sides of the cover memberin a bilaterally symmetrical manner.

75 77 79 The engagement sectionincludes a first engagement sectionand a second engagement section.

77 177 177 72 73 71 The first engagement sectionincludes a claw member, and the claw memberis disposed in a lower portion of each of the side surface platesandof the cover member.

72 73 71 151 64 66 68 76 71 153 64 66 68 a a a a a a 4 FIG. The pair of side surface platesandof the cover memberinclude side surface openingsthrough which the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cablepass. As shown in, the back surface plateof the cover memberincludes a back surface openingthrough which the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cablepass.

7 FIG. 71 is a partially sectional perspective view illustrating an engaged state of the cover member.

71 60 7 7 FIG. The cover memberis attached with respect to the step sectionof the outer casefrom downward toward upward as indicated by an arrow X in.

71 7 177 77 178 60 7 71 71 177 70 7 72 73 178 178 72 73 71 When the cover memberis attached to the outer case, the claw memberof the first engagement sectionis fitted into a groove sectionof the step section, and the outer caseand the cover memberare engaged with each other. That is, when the cover memberis attached in the direction of the arrow X, the claw membercomes into contact with a lower section wallof the outer case, is once bent inward integrally with the side surface platesand, and when it reaches the position of the groove section, it is elastically fitted into the groove section. The side surface platesandof the cover memberare flexible in the inward and outward directions.

5 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 79 179 71 71 72 73 74 71 71 60 7 181 179 79 181 60 61 62 69 As illustrated in, the second engagement sectionincludes a notch groovedisposed at a corner portion of the cover member. Here, the corner portions of the cover memberare the corner portions that connect the side surface platesandand the upper surface plateof the cover member. When the cover memberis attached to the step sectionof the outer casein the direction of the arrow X, as shown in, the protrusion sectionis fitted into the notch grooveof the second engagement section. As illustrated in, a protrusion sectionis formed on the step section, and is formed at the corner portion between the pair of first wall sectionsandand the upper wall section.

71 7 71 72 73 71 177 178 When the cover memberis removed from the outer case, the cover membermay be pulled out from top to bottom and removed in a state where the side surface platesandof the cover memberare bent inward and the claw memberis separated from the groove section.

71 60 7 7 2 71 71 71 According to the first embodiment, the cover memberis attached with respect to the step sectionof the outer casefrom downward toward upward, and is attachable to and detachable from the outer case. Therefore, when the check scanneris used, the cover memberis not easily detached in the rearward direction perpendicular to the attaching direction of the cover member, and it is not necessary to increase the fitting strength of the snap fit structure as in the related art. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the size of the hook shape, and the size of the cover membercan be reduced.

7 3 71 60 7 71 60 71 3 According to the first embodiment, the outer caseis installed on the table. According to this, since the cover memberis attached with respect to the step sectionof the outer casefrom downward toward upward, even if the cover memberfalls off from the step section, the cover memberis supported by the tableand does not fall off to the floor.

71 60 72 73 76 71 20 2 3 71 71 According to the first embodiment, when the cover memberis attached on the step section, the lower edges of the pair of side surface platesandand the back surface plateof the cover memberare flush with the lower end of the main body case. Note that the term “flush” in the present application includes “approximately flush”. Therefore, when the check scanneris installed on the table, the cover memberdoes not fall off in the attaching direction of the cover member, that is, downward.

74 71 69 60 74 80 71 7 According to the first embodiment, the upper surface plateof the cover membercontacts against the upper wall sectionof the step section, and thus, the upper surface plateand the step surfacecan make it difficult for the cover memberafter attachment to rotate with respect to the outer case.

77 60 7 71 7 77 7 71 71 According to the first embodiment, since the first engagement sectionis provided between the step sectionof the outer caseand the cover member, the outer casehas a structure that is not easily detached rearward. The first engagement sectionengages the outer caseand the cover memberby the snap fit structure, but it is not necessary to increase the fitting strength, and it is not necessary to increase the size of the hook shape, and the size of the cover membercan be reduced.

79 60 7 71 79 181 179 71 60 7 According to the first embodiment, since the second engagement sectionis provided between the step sectionof the outer caseand the cover member, the structure has a structure that is more difficult to be detached rearward. The second engagement sectionhas a structure in which the protrusion sectionis simply fitted with respect to the notch groove, and this fitting is achieved by simply attaching the cover memberwith respect to the step sectionof the outer casefrom downward toward upward, and thus the workability of fitting is improved.

75 77 79 79 According to the first embodiment, the engagement sectionincludes the first engagement sectionand the second engagement section, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The second engagement sectionmay be omitted.

77 79 71 71 72 73 74 76 77 79 72 73 71 According to the first embodiment, the first engagement sectionand the second engagement sectionare provided on both sides of the cover member. That is, the cover memberincludes the pair of side surface platesand, the upper surface plate, and the back surface plate, and the first engagement sectionand the second engagement sectionare provided on each of the pair of side surface platesand. According to this configuration, the cover memberis further less likely to be detached rearward.

72 73 71 151 64 66 68 76 71 153 64 66 68 a a a a a a According to the first embodiment, the pair of side surface platesandof the cover memberinclude the side surface openingsthrough which the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cablepass. The back surface plateof the cover memberincludes the back surface openingthrough which the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cablepass. This facilitates the handling of the cable.

For example, the above described embodiment merely illustrates one aspect of the present disclosure, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

79 181 60 179 71 In the first embodiment, the second engagement sectionis described as an example in which the protrusion sectionformed on the step sectionis fitted into the notch groovedisposed at the corner portion of the cover member. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a protrusion section is formed at a corner portion of the cover member and a notch groove is provided in the step section, so that the protrusion of the cover member is fitted into the notch groove of the step section.